In the five previous editions of the World Baseball Classic, there has never been a perfect game. That is, until Monday night, as Puerto Rico pitched a combined perfect game against Israel.
Four pitchers in total contributed to the perfect game. José De León pitched almost six perfect innings and was only pulled due to hitting the 65-pitch limit. Yacksel Ríos, Edwin Díaz, and Duane Underwood Jr. pitched the rest of the game.
This game ended in eight innings, thanks to the mercy rule, as Puerto Rico scored the clinching tenth run. Just hearing the words “walk off perfect game” is strange, but that’s the magic of the World Baseball Classic.
Many took notice of the game, specifically noting the sheer absurdity of the circumstances.
There’s a lot of things I didn’t have on my Twitter bingo card this week, so to say I was expecting a walk-off perfect game… I’d be lying.
— Chris Henrique (@ChrisHenrique) March 14, 2023
A walk-off mercy rule perfect game, days after an entire group ended in a five-way tie? This is the Sickos Baseball Classic pic.twitter.com/nrqtjJQMj9
— Sickos of Summer (@SickosOfSummer) March 14, 2023
Right now, Puerto Rico is in a position to advance to the knockout stage. Still, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic will make it difficult in Group D. If the Dominican Republic beats Israel Tuesday, that moves them past Puerto Rico for second. Regardless, it’s likely going to come down to a must-win for both Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic to see who has the best chance to finish second. Puerto Rico having the benefit of a day off might give them the edge.